Blackmailed For Vengeance(43)

“Because Lee, I am not the complete heartless bastard you think I am” he spoke against her mouth as he kissed her so softly that her whole body had shivered with desire. He had pulled her back onto the bed, his body comforting her as he drove her once more to the edge of reason, her heart soaring to be in his arms. Their lovemaking was slow, languish, but above all so intense. Lee felt that something had changed something so subtle that she was unable to put her finger on it, but something so wonderful that she had clung to him afterwards.

That afternoon, he had sat with her, as she talked with the undertaker, her face so drawn and sad, as she had made the necessary arrangements, arranging for the funeral to take place in two days.

As they had left she had breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have that ordeal over. As she had looked into the distance he had watched her eyes grow misty as she seemed to relive some old memory

“Are you OK” he asked moving closer to her

Lee had shaken herself looking at him

“I’m fine” she said giving him a small shaky smile “It just brings back memories that’s all”

He had looked back at her “Your parents” he said, as she had nodded gently, biting her lip as the memories had flooded back

“I lost my mother when I was 12” he said sadly, causing Lee to look at him in surprise. He had never before given her any personal information about himself

“My father never got over her death…he loved her so much…. He never married again”

Lee watched as his face became thoughtful, as though he was for the first time realising something

“What happened to your father” she eventually asked, as he had delved so deeply into her eyes with his dark ones

“He started to drink, slept with every woman he met. He died 10 years after her, I don’t really think he wanted to live” he gave a hollow laugh “That’s what love does to you” he said with bitterness in his voice

“It destroys you, turns you into a monster or makes you so miserable you don’t want to live any more” he said his face suddenly holding the old anger as he looked at her, before looking away

“Let’s go home” he said before turning and moving to the car. Slowly Lee had followed him and silently they had driven home, both lost in their own thoughts.

The funeral had gone quickly. Lee had been touched to see so many people turn up for Mrs Green’s funeral, mostly older people who had known the lady for many years. Peter had attended giving her hugs and support, as she had looked so fragile, looking warmly at Yanis as he held her close to him. Neither of them had talked about their feelings after the discussion outside the funeral home, but with each passing day, Lee had felt the love within her grow more and more for the man who stood beside her.

Jim seemed to be making progress, and Lee felt that one day soon he would wake up and then what. She had frowned realising that she had no idea what would happen when he did. When she had signed the contract, it was on the grounds that they would not have a personal relationship, but so much had changed. They were lovers, and she was in love. Sadly she knew that it was one sided. After his outburst two days prior, so much had fallen into place - his lack of commitment to any one woman and his need to punish those who used love to hurt others. With a heavy heart she knew that soon she would find herself with a choice, to walk away from Yanis or to stay as his mistress until he had bored with her, and with a heavy heart she knew that there was really only one option to choose.

It was with surprise a few days after the funeral that she had received a letter from the lawyer of Mrs Greens estate, in which she had been named as the sole beneficiary of her friends will. She had been shocked to discover that apart from the flat she lived in which was worth a great deal of money; she had also had a significant portfolio of valuable shares and money in the bank. Suddenly Lee had found herself to be a wealthy woman. She had not told Yanis of the news, not really sure why, but part of her realising that he was only keeping her with him until he could punish her by removing all of his wealth and making her penniless again. Had he known about her new found wealth, then there would have been little point to this exercise, and Lee realised that she was scared that he would end the relationship, her heart wanting to spend every minute she possibly could with him. She had known how pathetic this was, but every day she had with him was a bonus and one which she clung to with her whole being.

The next week had passed in a daze. The fund raiser for the orphanage was due at the end of the week, and Lee had started going to see the children every night before visiting Jim to get them ready for their dance session. She had quickly put together some routines which the children were to perform, surprised herself at how well they learnt them. Yanis, had drifted back into his old routine, having breakfast with her early and returning late, almost as though he was deliberately pulling back from her. She had known that soon he would tell her that he wanted her to leave, and while her heart had broken each time this had crossed her mind, part of her longed for him to release her.